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IFAW offers wildlife care clinics in wake of Cyclone Yasi

Friday, February 11, 2011

Sydney, Australia

Last Thursday morning, a category five cyclone, almost the size of the United States, made landfall near Mission Beach, Australia wreaking havoc along the coastline destroying residential and commercial structures, rainforests, banana and sugar cane crops and damaging more than 100 wildlife care facilities throughout Queensland.

Wildlife carers in the region requested the help of IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) The IFAW team joined forces with Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue Inc. and Mission Beach Wildcare to coordinate response efforts.

The team is offering one week of wildlife care clinics starting with a two-day training on Tuesday, February 15 in Cairns followed by another two-day training starting on Thursday February 17 in Tully. On Saturday, February 19 there will also be a full-day, hands-on veterinarian workshop on advanced care for wildlife at Cairns Revival Centre, Little Street, Cairns conducted by IFAW’s Dr. Howard Ralph and Tania Duratovic.

“Queensland residents and the livestock pets and wildlife that live there have been hit hard by two, large storms back to back,” said IFAW’s Manager of Disaster Relief Dr. Dick Green. “These wildlife care clinics are one small way we can give back and treat a large number of wildlife while also providing helpful suggestions on advanced animal care.”

The wildlife care clinics are part of the team’s four-pronged approach for caring for animals affected by the storm:
• acute and long-term veterinary care
• evacuation, transportation, translocation, and re-homing
• food and supply purchasing and distribution
• rebuilding damaged facilities

IFAW had just returned from the Queensland flooding one week before Cyclone Yasi made landfall after treating dozens of animals including koalas, wallabies, a bearded dragon and many birds with varying injuries including fractures, sprains, dehydration and eye issues to name a few.

IFAW responds to both natural and man-made disasters affecting wild and domestic animals with a group of highly trained professionals prepared to deploy whenever animals need help. The IFAW Emergency Relief team is trained to operate in difficult circumstances, often for weeks or months at a time. Working with local communities, IFAW steps in to end suffering, save animal lives and work with local officials to avoid and/or prepare for future disasters. During the last five years alone, IFAW has responded to more than 30 disasters worldwide.